Folding machine



April 1930. w. L. DIXON 1,753,648

FOLDING MAC-HINE Filed March 1, 1926 s sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1.

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April 8, 1930. w. L. D|XON 1,7 3,648

FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FigZ.

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WolTer L Dixon WW, wwa, MW.

k wi 18,1930. w, DIXON 1,753,648

' FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 1, 1926 5 Shets-Sheet 3 Fig.

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April 8, 1930. w. L. DIX ON 1,753,648

FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 InvenTor.

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Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER L. DIXON, or BOs'roN, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIoNoR To Renoir. FO DING: MACHINE COMPANY, 015 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION on MAINE FOLDING MACHINE Application filed Mareh l, 1926. Serial No. 91,478.

= chine which is capable of efficiently folding and pressing what may be described asa bellows fold, in the nature of abox pleat, sometimes desirable in pockets'of'jumpers, overalls or like garments, although theprinciples and features of the invention could be analogously used for various other articles.

taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7 showing the Other and further objects and advantagesof the present invention will be pointed out in the hereinafter following description of an n illustrative embodiment thereof or Wlll be apparent to those conversant with the subject. To the attainment of the'objects and advantages referred to the present invention. consists in the novel folding machine,-apparatus or mechanism, and the novel features of combination. arrangement, construction, mode of action and detail herein illustrated or described.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a left end elevation of a folding machine embodying the principles of the present invention, the illustrated machine being shown for Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1. In this figure as in Fig. 1 the parts are shown in their initial position, with the'die or templet elevatedabove the bed. and the infolders retracted outwardly.

Fig. 3is a top plan view of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2-with howeverthe templetlowered upon the bed of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a section view takenon the line H of Fig. 3, looking from the left, and on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a central vertical section of the templet as shown in 4, looking from the front, that is from the right side of Fig. 4. V

Fig. 6 shows the Original cloth piece or blank out to shape and with the defining partof the templet in position thereon.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but after I the opposite infolds or tucks have been formed over the defining edges of the templet, this View also indicating in dotted lines the extracted position of the templet.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic cross section Fig. 11 is a similar view showing the pressing elements in operation squeezingthe folded blanks against the bed immediately 7 after the withdrawal of the templet and in-' folders. I 1 r i Fig. 12 is a face View of the article after the described infol ding and after the intended infolding of the peripheral edges, thus producing a foldedblank for whatis known as a bellows pocket or expansible pocket readyfor attachment to jumpers or other articles of wear.

For convenience'the description may be begun with the mode-ofpr'ocedure orjsuccessive steps in the foldingoperation- The original blank 15 shown in Fig. 6 is of-the approximate shape of the finished article but sufiiciently, larger in all directions to allow'for the infolding. In the first stage ofoperation, indicated in Figs. 7' and 8, the longitudinal central. portion of the blank is clamped'down' by the templet upo-n the bed while portions of the fabric tothe front andlrear folded or tucked in, forming front and'rear flaps 16. the result being indicated in Figs. 9and 10, F 11 indicating the material flattened or compacted under increasing pressure.

The product at this stage contains only the bellows fold. or box pleat, and the infoldingl of the n'iargins maybe performed on various loo pad 22. i

types of Reece folding machines already known. For example, as shown in Fig. 12, the front and rear side margins 17 may first be folded in, then the diagonal or corner margins l8 and finally the long end margin 19 and the short end margin 20, including the previously tucked or pleated portion thereof. The marginal infolding is preferably done in a separate machine from the central or bellows folding of the fabric, although with a proper combination of mechanisms it might be performed in the same machine.

Before discussing the mechanism of the machine it may be convenient first to refer to ;hose parts which directly contact the blank during the folding operations. Thus the raised bed portion or pad 22 directly supports the central portion of the blank which is to be infolded. The defining or thin portion or olate 23 of the templet is indicated as locateddirectly above the supporting pad 22 but of slightly less dimension. The oppo site or front and rear infoldcrs 24 consist of thin straight plates mounted and operated 13 will be described. In addition to these parts Fig. 11 indicates a pressing means consisting of a pair of pressing elements 25 bearing downwardly upon the folds of the blank to squeeze them against the supporting The general machine parts may be briefly described as follows. The frame is a rigid structure having supporting legs extending to the floor and horizontal parts on which the bed is supported and various projections and other formations as will be described. The horizontal portion of the frame gives rigid support to the table 31 of the machine, upon which is secured directly the supporting pad or bed 22. The frame is shown as having the usual rearward and upward extensions or brackets 33 in which is journalled the axle or rock shaft 34 about which the templet swings in descending to the bed and lifting therefrom; but as stated the general features may vary and the templet might be of the well known cross-head type sliding downwardly and upwardly. Power may be derived from a power shaft 35 having fast and loose pulleys at the rear end and with a driving worm 36 near'the front end engaging a worm wheel 37 mounted directly on the main or cam shaft 38.

The templet 4:0 as a whole comprises work- 'ug mechanism to be described, with the thin defining plate 23 at the lower side. This entire element is carried at the forward end of a pair of swinging arms 41 which are arranged to turn on or with the shaft or axle 3st so as to permit the upward and downward movements of the swinging templet. These movements may be effected through a rear extension 42 of one of the carrying arms, the same connected by a link 43, adjustable in length, to a lever arm 44 which is in the form of a bell crank having an upwardly extending arm 45 at the extremity of which is a cam roll 46 bearing against the periphery of a cam 47 on the main or cam shaft 38. The weight of the templet holds the roll to the cam, and the contour is indicated in dotted lines in Fig.1, showing that the templet is held elevated for nearly a quarter turn and then lowered quickly to the bed where it remains for near a half turn before being elevated to initial position.

I The structure of the templet is well shown in the enlarged Figs. 4 and 5 in connection with the other views. The carrying arms 41 directly support the templet frame 49, which may be a hollow structure. Attached below this element is the templet body 50-which is of extended length and is formed at its underside with a track or guideway 51 in which travels longitudinally in a right or left directionthe T-shaped stock 52 which at its lower edge has attached to it the templet defining plate 23. The templet stock 52 is confined in the guide slot by'opposite bearing bars 53 which may be secured in any suitable manner, for example, by being clamped in place as shown by the pressure elements or blocks 25 attached by bolts to the underside of the templet body 50 near its middle. By this arrangement the defining plate 23 may be brought down in its defining or'normal position as indicated in Figs. 3 to 5, and after the folding is adapted to he slid longitudinally toward the right to remove it from the folds, the T-shape stock guided by the tracks 51' and confining bars 53/ The templet has certain attachments, for example small lugs 55 extending lengthwise to'make connection with the pressure applying mechanism for the purpose of pulling the presser blocks 25 down upon the work, as will be described. 3 Another attachment is a spring pressed finger 56 adapted normally to occupy a small notch 57 formed at the middle of the left end of the templet plate 23, the stock 52 being slightly shorter than the plate at this end as'clearly seen in Figs. 5 and 6. The finger 56 is carried at the end of a spring lever 58, thrown downwardly by its spring and having a tail which is adapted to be thrown at will by, an eccentric latch 59 to hold the finger 56 elevated out of the notch 57, The operationof these parts will be described later.

There will now be described the means for retracting the defining plate 23 from the folds 16 by sliding it longitudinally toward the right, which movement as will be clear from.

'from each endof the body 50, these serving 7 memes.

52. which slidesvin: ways. 51: in; the templet; body 50.; Mounted on; top olf the body; 510 -1 s;v

shown anoperating' wheel; adapted to be turnedto cause the rightward sliding-of 'the, templetstock and. plate.. Thewheel or d sk] 60 turns. freely about a. stationary post or; sleeve 61 which in turn is secured iniplace by anupright headed bolt 62;, hen the wheels is-turneda half revolution it operates through a link 63-; to. slide the templet, stock; 52- toward the right. Thelinlr 63 iscon-nected-to the leftwardside ofgthe disk or wheel throughanupright sleeveor post 64 held in position by a1 headed; bolt 65 which; may bev ad ust-ed radially along a slot'66 formed in the d1sk. The other end of thealink 63; is" connected' by an uprightpostor sleeve 67-with the stock; 52, there being a-headed bolt 6,8,hy: which: the; sleeve is secured to; the upper side of the stock. These partsextendthrough aeslot 69 formed, in the body 50 and the bolt; passes through a slot-70 formed at'the upperside off thestock 5.2, the-head of the bolt entering; an

undercut recess 71 formed; in; the-stock.

.. this .arrangementa half turn of the disk 60' throws the stockanddefining. plate clear to; the right, while areverse movementrestores. them to-normah thediskGO being'in efi'ectan adjustable crank arm,

Theselon-gitudinal movements of the templet plate may be-etfectedthrough a pinion 74 attached to the undersideofthe diskfil), the pinion shown asbeingengagedby: arack:

75' which is;mounted. at the forward end ot an operating arm 76. While thisarmmight swing it is preferablyarrangedztoslide;right-i ward and leftwardto operatetherackand,

for this purpose the rear; endofthe arm is secured to a portion ofa sleeve 77fitted;to;slide loosely longitudinally on; the; rear; axle; 3d,. Theslide 77 i'sprovidedwith a pairof flanges; 7 8 confining betwee lgthem a ring 7 9; having; outstanding pins 80 engagedby a. yoke 8 -1.. formed at the uppen'end ofa swinging; arm 1 82.

crumed toaspecialbracket 83; andjan inten. mediateportion of the arm isprovided with a forwardly extending axle 84 carrying atrits The lower, end of the arm 82 lfi' flll front end a cam roller 85; engaging in; the

of. the templet plate.

the infoldGISProper- 0.1 thinapl tel z' ilwhi h are; mqvedntoward-eaohvother fromithefrontr and rear sides so as to force thejfablficrinoven defining; e plet plate: 23;. the presser blocks 25 cooperating in this; movement?. lay; holding the body ofi thefabricgin-.placegasthe;

infolders :thrust thefabric betweenrtheblocks;

and thetemp et; In this senseithe blocksi25iare pper h ping members takingpart; shaping the -f,olds.-v The; lower; part .v ofi'the; templet' stock 52, may; also; take part in the. shaping, action, in the, sensethat: it; forms a; stop or -limitto the inwardmovement ofthe;

infolders. The five elements; the. pad, the.

defining plate, the'stock; the infblders and-the; verhang ng; haping; memb rs hu c op ate to give entire; control? of: they disposition ofall parts of the iabric; insuring. anaccuerate result.

Each infolder. plate 24; j isattached at the. inner .edgeofi a heavy memberor stock 9 0; and

the projecting portionof the infolderis pref.-

erably off such; extentthati as it comes; to the: limit of its inward; movement the" stocki 9O abuts against the raised bedor'pad-22;,thuepreventing any;part of"; the, fold; extending:

outwardly beyond the defining; plateitselfi; The length of-the inneredgezof, eachfinfolder stockz9Q may beof-thedull extent of theedge:

to be infoldbdi but the outer end thereof; may be narrowed I to formga-shank 91,. as; shown,- these, parts; being confined, and-v guided; in

box-like structure comprisinga lower portion- 93 and-anupper; portionor plateifl the. latter; being held down: by a number of small screws as seen in Fig; 3. and confining; the =,info1der: stock shank 91in; a slidew-ay orreoess-formed attheuppe'r, side fE'the-partv 932 Theainfolder gnideboxes may be nnountedr as; follows.- Each of the lower portions-93 E shownpivoted atboth sides upon upstanding stationarylugs; 95. Standing outwardly;

from each'lug-is shown a spring wire 96 arr ranged to press upwardly. onfthe outer part of the guide, thus throwing 'dOWn:=thQ1 'll'1IleI-- part thereoflwhilea set screw 97. is employed.

for. accurately. adjusting the heightof each lIl-r folder with relatiom-tothe supporting. pad.- and. templet, For-the purpose of, throwing,

the infolders inwardly. andf outwardly. each, stock 9l .is shown providedyvitha downward} lyextending lug or bracket; 9 8, these being pivotally engaged and actuated bylevers 99:

having pin-and-slot -.connections 100 to the v lugs. Each lever 99i's mountedon acounter shaft 101 ,to. which is also adjustably'secured" a cam lever '102jh'aving atits-l ower end a stud' or roll 103 entering a groove 1040-16 acam 105 mounted on the mainsha-ft-38. The contour of the camis seen in Fig; l -andit is so timed as 1 to throw. the; infolders inwardly after the templet is in. place and draw them outwardly. before the pressure: operation. On the top of each of the infoldenguide boxes areshown a. number ofiwork :ga es;;107 ranged-torpositionia'blankaofithe orm shown a.

. into position.

The necessary pressure maybe applied by the following means. The endwise extending lugs on the body of the templet have already beenmentioned, and the downwardly extending pressure blocks 25, the feet of which overlie the fabric folds. By thrusting down on the lugs 55 pressure can be applied to the fabric. For this purpose there are shown a pair of opposite pressure hooks or latches 110. These are normally retracted and are so shown inFigs. 2 and 3. Fig. 1 shows one of them in end view. Each latch is formed with a front recess 111 to receive a control finger to be mentioned. The two pressure hooks are adapted to be swung inwardly to operative position and for this purpose each of them is pivoted to a slide bar 112 running in a slideway 113 at the corresponding end of the machine. The lower end of the slide bar is shown as provided with a pin and block connection lliby which it is operatively connected to'the slotted arm 115 of a bell crank lever, the downward arm 116 of which is provided with a cam roll 11? entering the cam groove 118 of a disk119 on the main shaft 38. The cams 118 are so formedthat the lever arms 116 will be thrown rearwardly and the hooks 110 pulled downwardly to cause the pressing operation at a time after the folds have been formed and after the templet and infolds have been withdrawn from the folds. In order to render the pressure hooks operative and inoperative at the proper times each of them is provided with a controlling finger 121 which engages in the recess 111. Each finger is mounted on arock shaft 122 and is thus able to rock "rioward the right or left so as to 'move the pressure hook into or'out of position. Each rock shaft is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 123 at its lower end havinga cam roll 124 engaging a cam groove 125 in the periphery ofthe disk 119. The timing is such thatthe pressure hooks will be moved inwardly over the pressure lugs before the pressure is applied and will be moved away therefrom after the pressure hasbeen relaxed and before the templet'commences to rise.

The spring finger 56 operates to prevent slippage of the blank on the bed while the defining plate of the templet is sliding out of iontact with the blank. As seen in Fig. 1 the spring finger normally projects below the templet plate, and it therefore contacts lightly upon the blank and holds it pressed down upon the bed while the templet comes The spring lever 58 yields during this action leaving the parts in the position shown in Fig. 5. When the templet is slid out lengthwise after the folding, the finger remains in position and holds the blank so that it cannot be drawn out with the Figs. 1' and 2 show theelements of the machine in normal or original position. The operator will position the blank with relation to the-gages 107 and shift the power belt or otherwise start the main shaft, turning preferably for a single rotation. The templet descends quickly and is positioned accurately upon the blank as indicated in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, operated from the cam 47. The infolders then move inwardly'operated by cams 104, to the position indicated in Figs. 7 and 8. The folds are thus formed between the bed, the templet, the infolders and the overlying shapers or blocks 25. The templet plate or stock, is then shifted bodily to the right to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig.

7, operated by cam 86, leaving the parts as outwardly and the templet starts upwardly, 7

its defining plate thereafter sliding leftward toward its normal position so that at the end of acOmplete rotation of the main shaft the parts are all restored to normal position.

It will thus be seen that there has beenjdescribed a folding machine embodying the principles and attaining the objects and ad vantages of the present invention. Since many matters of combination, arrangement, construction, mode of action and detail'may be variously modified without departing fro'm'the underlying principles it is not intended to limit the invention to such matters except so far asset forth in the appended claims."

What is claimed is:

-1. A folding machine for producing bellows or box folds or pleats in cloth or other blanks, having inncombination a bed, a templet having opposite defining edges for the respective folds, a carrier therefor adapted to move toward and from the bed, means for shifting the templet to retract it longitudinally out of the enclosing folds, an overhanging shaping member spaced above the defining member, infolders adapted to'thrust the templet. The eccentric 59 can be used to i wherein the templet shifting means operates to slide the templet longitudinally its full length to remove it from the blank.

3. A machine for producing bellows or box folds or pleats in cloth or other blanks, having in combination a defining member having opposite defining edges for the respective folds, a carrier therefor adapted to move toward and from the bed, a raised bed of ap roximately the length and width of the de ning member, arranged to support the blank during folding, infolders adapted to thrust the material over the edges of the defining member and thus form reverse folds, means for shifting the defining member to retract its longitudinally out of the enclosing folds, and beyond the end of the raised bed, an overhanging member spaced above the defining member adapted to drop upon the folds upon the retraction of the templet from over the bed, and means for squeezing the folds between the overhanging member and bed after the retraction of the defining member and infolders.

4. A machine for producing open ended box pleats in cloth or other blanks, comprising a bed, a templet with straight opposite longitudinal defining edges, a templet carrier adapted to move toward and from the bed, means for longitudinally shifting the templet bodily to retract it out of an end of the enclosing folds, an overhanging shaping member supported by said carrier at each side and spaced above the templet, straight infolding means at each side of the templet adapted to thrust the material of the blanks over each side edge of the templet and thus form at each side reverse folds between the bed and the shaping member, the shaping member at each side being of such width as to cover both of the folds formed at that side, and means for squeezing the two folds at each side consisting of mechanism adapted to force the overhanging shaping member relatively towards the bed.

5. A machine for producing bellows or box folds or pleats in cloth or other blanks, having in combination a defining member having opposite defining edges for the respective folds, a carrier therefor adapted to move toward and from the bed, shaping members carried by said carrier and spaced slightly above said defining edges, opposite infolders arranged to thrust the material between the shaping member and defining edges to form reverse folds, a blank supporting pad, means for shifting the defining member to retract it longitudinally out of the enclosing folds, and from above the raised pad, and thus to permit the shaping members todrop upon the folds, and means for squeezing the folds between the shaping members and pad after the retraction of the defining member and infolders.

6. In a machine for producing bellows or box folds or pleats in cloth or other blanks, the combination of a raised bed, a templet having a central stock and opposite defining edges for the respective folds, a carrier therefor adapted to move toward and from the bed, means for shifting the stock to retract the edges longitudinally out of the enclosing folds, an overhanging shapingmember spaced above the defining edges, infolders adapted to thrust the material over the edges of the defining member and thus form reverse folds between the bed and shaping member, each infolder comprising a plate portion adapted substantially to meet said stock and a stock portion adapted substantially to meet said bed, in the inward movements thereof.

7. In a machine for producing bellows or box folds or pleats in cloth or other blanks, the combination of a raised bed, a templet having a central stock and opposite defining edges for the respective folds, a carrier therefor adapted to move toward and from the bed, an overhanging shaping member, means for shifting the stock to retract theedges longitudinally out of the enclosing folds, opposite infolders for forming reverse folds in the blank, a guide for each infolder, means pivoting each guide to allow up and down adjustment at its inner edge to adapt the infolder to advance between the templet and the shaping member, and adjusting means therefor. V

8. In a machine for producing bellows or box folds or pleats in .cloth or other blanks, the combination of a raised bed, a templet having a central stock and opposite defining edges for the respective folds, a carrier therefor adapted to move toward and from the bed, an overhanging shaping member, means for shifting the stock to retract the edges longitudinally out of the enclosing folds, opposite infolders for forming reverse folds in the blank, a guide for each infolder, means pivoting each guide: to allow up and down adjustment at its inner edge to adapt the infolder to the bed and templet,and adjusting means therefor, consisting of a set screw fixing the elevation of the infolders, and a spring holding the guide thereto, and permitting yield.

9. A folding machine as in claim 1 and wherein the templet carrier is provided with a spring finger engaged in a recess in the defining edge of the templet, adapted to hold the blank upon the bed during the longitudinal shifting of the templet.

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature hereto.

WALTER L. DIXON. 

